Saturday, January 29, 2011

Well, I've gone in the red this week, but I knew that would happen. Charlevoix yardage hit the Fat Quarter Shop. There was also sale at Bunnyhill Designs for Lily & Will yardage. I think there's still some yardage on sale there, so check it out. Also received the backing for the Civil War Chronicles BOM from the Fat Quarter Shop. All in all, I guess it wasn't as bad as it could have been! The only bust, sent charm packs to friends.

I don't know what's wrong with me lately. I'm not sleeping at all at night, and now this weekend all I want to do is sleep. Doesn't bode well for my sewing time, but must get my body regulated. Auditors finished yesterday. I'd bet now that that stress is over, things will return to normal. We'll see.

I'll be playing with the new camera tomorrow. Today I managed to get it out of the box and get the strap on, battery charged, and lens attached. I fell asleep reading the manual. I'd attach a photo now, but I haven't taken one yet! Tomorrow Penny will have to pose for me. Yeah, right.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Monday, January 24, 2011

Thank you all so much for showing interest in the scrap strips. This has encouraged me to dump out that HUGE tub of other scraps - maybe we'll do this again soon!

The winner of the scraps is:

Sherrill at Quilting in My Sleep blog. Penny chose the name out of the bag. I dropped a French fry in there and she came up with the fry AND a piece of paper! Silly dog!

Sherrill, please email me your mailing address and I'll get these off to you tomorrow. Hope you turn these into something wonderful for your charity quilts!

What a day at work! We have financial auditors in, and they're driving me nuts. I'm hoping they'll be done this week. In fact, I'm going to insist they start wrapping it up. They keep asking me for stuff I've already given them!! I'm thinking it's all about billable hours at this point.......

Santa Ana winds are going to kick up again this week. Hot weather follows. Supposed to get up to the mid 80s by mid week. Guess our ten minutes of winter is over.

I'm tired. I guess it shows. Will be back with another post maybe tomorrow.

Thanks again to everyone who wanted in the drawing. I really like recycling these things. Makes me feel frugal! ROFLOL.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

The gallon Ziploc on the left is stuff with 2" strips. The big bag on the right is full of 2.5" strips. I'm not going to use them. I don't want them any more. I want those two tubs for other things.

Does anybody out there want them for scrap quilts? If so, just leave a comment and we'll have a drawing tomorrow night, Monday 1-24-11, when I get home from work. If no one wants them, they'll be given to someone locally to put in dog beds for the shelter.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Well, all things considered with the quilt show and all, my report is still in the black! It won't be next week, though. I already know that. Charlevoix yardage has hit the Fat Quarter Shop, and I ordered some tonight. But I did good on that, too. I sat down with two Minick & Simpson patterns and got exactly what I needed for both of them! Watch me cave next week and order more! There's another pattern around here somewhere but I can't put my hands on it right now. (sigh)

I took out the three kits I purchased from Stars & Scraps at the quilt show. Honestly, I thought there were only two. Anyway, those totals are also added into the numbers below along with the Triangles Quilt yardage. Other than one pattern and a couple of books, that was it.

Then ten yards went out to a friend. Hey, gotta bust it wherever you can! :)

I think Jane and I set a record. Road to California in three hours! We were both pooped. Nothing new and exciting. There were some pretty quilts hanging, but a lot - and I mean a lot of them had all those crystal beadings, etc. They were beautiful, but nothing I would ever want to make. There were a number of Civil War quilts, more traditional patterns, and those were the ones I found the most interesting. The web site doesn't have the winners up yet. www.road2ca.com

Yes, I bought a couple of kits. One is from Primitive Gatherings, and is The Triangle Quilt. I must be nuts - but that thing was so beautiful. They are 1" HSTs.

The other kits are still in the car. They were from Stars & Scraps, and are small quilts. Shouldn't ding my stash report too badly! :)

Thank you all for your input on decision-making. This involved a move, and as of one hour ago, the decision was made not to do that. So all that worrying was for naught, but at least I worked through things in my own feeble mind. I did decide, though, that this year I'm getting control of my life. I seem to have been reacting the last couple of years instead of being proactive. Some of this was out of my control. I'm going to be 60 years old this year, so I must start doing what's in my best interest, especially with my time.

I'm going to take a nap just as soon as I finish off this bowl of ice cream. Didn't sleep a wink last night, and now I'm going to play catch-up. Oh, and the ice cream is just because!

ADDITIONAL NOTE: Jane and I just talked, and something occurred to both of us. We didn't see any jelly rolls, charm packs or layer cakes in the booths. Granted, we might have missed them, but usually the booths are full of those kind of things. Hmmmm........

Monday, January 17, 2011

How do you make decisions? I'm not talking about anything earth-shattering like whether to marry someone or what school to send the kidlets to, or anything quite as simple as whether to use green or blue for the outside border. Something kind of in the middle.

What I'm asking is how do you make decisions on something that is really not a huge deal except that it will make for a huge amount of work for a couple of weeks. Do you make lists of pros and cons? Do you ask for help from friends like I'm doing here? Do you just go with your gut? Or do you let the decision make itself? Daddy used to tell me all the time, "If you don't know what to do, do nothing." When I've taken that approach, things sometimes worked themselves out, but sometimes I was left wondering if I should have done something.

I'm not going to say what I'm pondering until I do/don't do it. Then I'm sure I'll have plenty to complain .... uh, blog about.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

There was sewing going on here this week, but you can't tell it from this picture. I pinned the last round of logs on the blocks last night, but discovered my bobbin was empty - all of my bobbins were empty. It was time to call it a night, so this morning I'll fill all 15 or 20 of them and be ready to sew for a while!

Will start sewing these together today, but first some things need to be done about the house.

My mouse rolled over and died yesterday, so I headed over to Office Depot. Geez, I didn't realize that mice were so different. Every color in the world, every design in the world, itty bitty ones, weird shapes! I finally had to get a sales rep to find me a plain Jane gray or black mouse. I asked him if they just had mice for old ladies. Without missing a beat, he reached down to the bottom shelf and got what I needed. I'll have to remember to pull out the "old lady" card the next time I can't find something! It's amazing how much better everything is now. I guess I had been fighting that one for so long that I had gotten used to it.

This week fabric finally landed. Hey, I made it three weeks! I received a package from the Fat Quarter Shop. It's the Night Before Christmas BOM by Anne Sutton of Bunnyhill Designs. I am going to get started prepping that block when I clear off my sewing table, probably two weeks. The backing I ordered for the quilt arrived in the box, four yards. Also included were all the embellishments for the whole quilt, each month carefully labeled. I love those neatly organized packages from Kimberly!

I'm in love with Anne's designs. They're whimsical and fun. Her instructions are perfect, and the pattern contains full size drawings and colored pictures of each block printed on card stock. I particularly like that because I have the picture out when working on a block and they prop up nicely on the table next to my applique chair. It's that old lady thing again!

I also want to get things caught up in my sewing room so I can participate in Anne's Henrietta Whiskers Club. Just need to make sure I'm signed up for her newsletter to get notification when each block is available on Bunny Tales blog. I think I am, but I'm so forgetful these days ...

And speaking of old ladies, this is what Penny looks like first thing in the morning! She didn't like it one bit that I moved her quilt and woke her up. Those ears! Kinda looks like my hair in the morning! Okay, so she's not old, but she acts like it sometimes. "Arf," I want it now! "Arf, arf," outside, please, now! "Grrarf," bacon!! Now!! LOL, she cracks me up! She's such a sweet, docile little thing, but she inherited my impatience. Hey, gotta love a woman who knows what she wants!

2011 Totals:

Busted: 22.65 yardsPurchased: 4 yardsNet YTD: 18.65 yards busted

Visit Judy's Patchwork Times to check out reports from other quilters! I see lots of good things happening there!!

ADDITIONAL NOTE: Yes, I will be heading over to Road to California quilt show next weekend!!! I forgot that part. Thanks for the reminder, Darlene! I can't wait!!!

Friday, January 14, 2011

I read a blog this morning that got me to thinking. This blogger asked what kind of blogs her readers liked. I was onboard at that point and started thinking about it. Then she said something that made me step back a bit.

She said she didn't like blogs where folks only gave away stuff (EDIT: Sorry, this was a statement by a commenter, not the blogger), or only showed what they bought and never what they made from that; she wanted to know what kind of job those people had that allowed them to purchase that much fabric; and she wanted to know more about the quilter's life outside of fabric purchases. She didn't like blogs that were only about one thing but liked reading about variety.

Well ....

I tried to keep the blog going in 2010 even when there was absolutely nothing to blog about. Those readers who know me personally, or those who took the time to email me and ask the question, were told what was going on for the last year and a half, but I wasn't free to write about it here. With virtually no sewing happening, and no time to get away to refresh myself, the things I could write about were fabric purchases, the dog, and a few give-aways.

So ....

I'm going to steal the thought (and steel myself for the replies here) and ask you, my readers, what you like and dislike about my blog. Where you would like to see me take it in 2011. Or maybe things I've mentioned about which you would like to know more.

Be honest, but I do have my finger poised over the delete button just in case anyone gets nasty. Ask questions. I'll answer any that I feel are appropriate for a public blog, or you can email me if you want more details.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Barbara Brackman has a new project going on a new blog site, Civil War Quilts. As usual, I'm late to the party. I'll have to think about this one but it might be fun to play along - or with me, it's more like play catch-up. I'm always behind! As in the faster I go, the behinder I get! :)

And then Miss Kimberly at the Fat Quarter Shop is trying to get me in stash trouble again this year! I poked the "Heck-yeah-notify-me-when-it's-in" button on Fa La La La La!

Oh, and I noticed another thing about a lot of the new lines. Yellow is the new hot color this year. A lot of yellow popping up! It surely does add a nice sparkle to those lines like Pom Pom de Paris by French General, Strawberry Fields by Fig Tree, Charlevoix by Minick & Simpson, Hullabaloo by Urban Chiks, Lily & Will II by Bunny Hill Designs, Lovely by Sandy Gervais, Oasis by 3 Sisters, Sweet Pickins by Darlene Zimmerman ... just to name a few. I'm sure there are more, but those will have to be another day! LOL.

Kim Brackett has a new book coming out, Scrap Basket Sensations. I love Scrap Basket Surprises, and can't wait to get a copy of this one!

And finally, 2011 Designer Mystery Block of the Month has been announced at the Fat Quarter Shop! I'm signing up for it tonight, and the finishing kit! I've done them all and loved every one of them! And I spy yellow in this one!!!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Actually it's Design Sewing Table Monday, but that's just semantics! Should have "staged" the picture, but, hey, just keeping it real here!

I worked most of the day yesterday on the 3 Sisters in Rome quilt, and am about two-thirds done making the blocks. It's colorful and scrappy - or as scrappy as you can get using just one line of fabric.

I've discovered three things:

1. It's boring sewing these strips, but boring is good when I haven't sewn in so long.

2. I'm not planning any colors, just grabbing a strip and sewing it on. It's amazing how many times I'll grab a strip that touches another strip of the same fabric. With 40 fabrics here, I would have thought that wouldn't happen very often.

3. No matter how nice and neat and organized I start out, I always end up with a pile of messy fabrics next to my machine. Creative chaos? Please agree with me!

I hope to be able to work on these a bit each night this week. Who knows? I might be ready to assemble the top next weekend.

Sunday, January 09, 2011

This week I busted the Patchwork Santa, 2.5 yards, and I sent 3 yards to a friend.

Then I decided to dig through some older quilt kits and found this one - "3 Sisters in Rome"!

The fabric is Roman Holiday by 3 Sisters and the Sticks 'N Stones pattern by Kansas Troubles Quilters. This was kitted by the Fat Quarter Shop three, maybe four years ago? I think it's seasoned quite well and is ready to get sewn up! Lordy, I love my stash!!

I'm almost through cutting it out, so it's going on the stash report - 7.15 yards. I want to finish cutting it this morning and move right on to sewing on it! It's a real easy pattern and will be fun to sew. I'll count the backing later when that's pieced and ready to go to the quilter.

I currently have four quilts at my local quilter. All of them just need overall quilting, but it'll be good to get those back and the binding sewn on. I love hand stitching bindings, so something to look forward to.

I talked to my great niece and nephew who received their quilts this week. They're such adorable children and loved their quilts. Makes my heart sing to know that!

Saturday, January 08, 2011

Anyway, the top is done, the backing pieced, the binding made. Just need to sit down and do a quick quilting on it, but that will be another time. I'm wanting to sew on something else. Surely don't want to stop that little tickling of creativity I'm experiencing. I realized it's been six months since I've sewn.

Oh, don't go back and look at the pattern I posted in the last blog post. Please. Because if you do, you'll see that I inadvertently left out a row of 2.5" squares. I didn't realize it until last night, but I wasn't about to undo the applique and take it apart. My hunchback Santa is just 2" shorter than everyone else's!!

Note to self: When you find extra pieces leftover when you think you're finished, there's probably something wrong with what you did!

I had a real stressful week. So I'm destressing today by doing nothing but sewing if I want to, napping when I feel like it and petting Penny as often as I can. Sounds like the perfect day to me!

Monday, January 03, 2011

I decided yesterday afternoon that I didn't want to work on my UFO, didn't want to work on a Monochromatic quilt, and I just wanted to sew without thinking.

So I pulled this little teeny kit out. It's Patchwork Santa by Jan Patek, and finishes 24 x 30. Just need to get the borders on, simply quilt it, and put some buttons for Santa's eyes. That plaid brushed cotton at the bottom of the picture is the backing.

Gotta love those easy projects!!

Visit Patchwork Times to check out what others worked on this weekend. Design Wall Monday is such an inspiration!

Sunday, January 02, 2011

I have had the most wonderful four days off. Well, I'm assuming today will be wonderful so I'll go ahead and count it in advance! Jane, her sweet DH and Skippy came over yesterday. We laughed, talked, ate a bunch, had the Rose Bowl game on in the background. Two desserts. We were all stuffed. Penny hopped in her bed and hasn't moved since Skippy left.

AND Jane walked out of here with 10 yards of fabric! All right! A bust on New Year's Day! Man, it doesn't get any better than that!! "Whatever you do on New Year's Day, you do for the rest of the year." :)

I'm so full of inspiration that I'm about to pop wide open. Jane gave me some quilt books for Christmas. There are a couple of quilts (or more) in each one that I want to make. Seriously, I've been digging through my stash for possibilities. Some of them will use particular Moda lines, but that's okay. Stash is stash. What I'm having the most trouble using is the "color wall." Judy's Monochromatic Challenge will help in that regard. I'm going to participate whenever I can.

January and possibly February are going to be brutal for me at work. I'm extremely busy through June 15th, but those two months will be the worst. I plan on cramming as much into my weeks as I can so that my weekends are free to sew. I have a plan and I'm sticking to it!!

I finally unearthed my cutting table and sewing table yesterday. A bit more tidying up there and I'm good to go.

Another thing on my agenda this year is major dental work. I start tomorrow with a four-hour appointment. Interestingly, I'm looking forward to getting it all done. We mapped out everything and it'll be done over the course of a few months, but by mid year I hope to be finished. I have such a hodge-podge of crowns, bridges and fillings in my mouth. I'll finally have everything permanent and matching. After being here 16+ years and going through three different dentists, I finally found one I like. I told him I expect a plaque in the lobby in my honor when I'm done!! :)

Oh, speaking of the Rose Parade -- we were talking about that, weren't we? -- yesterday morning I heard the loudest roar outside. I immediately knew what it was and dashed out to get a visual. It was the Stealth flying right over the Quilting Condo on its way home from the parade! Such an awesome sight! Naturally, I didn't grab my camera, but let's see if I can paint a picture. Absolutely crystal clear blue skies and snow-capped mountains framing the Stealth. It was making its climb and there was this perfect moment there that would have made the most wonderful photo. The Stealth is near and dear to our company as we provided the titanium used in the prototypes and were invited to the roll-out of the first Stealth. We have a picture in our lobby and a framed commendation. Quite a remarkable plane! I'm proud as all get-out when I see one in flight!

Okay, this is too long. I was going to make a resolution to have short and concise blogging posts this year, then decided it doesn't matter the length. The important thing is that I record my quilting and thoughts, however long or short they may be.

2011 Totals:

Busted: 10 yardsPurchased: 0 yardsNet YTD: 10 yards busted :)

Be sure to check out Judy's Patchwork Times each Sunday to see how we all are doing.

Saturday, January 01, 2011

I spent yesterday thinking about quilting. Yes, I did! Not only thinking about it, but lining up projects for the coming year. 2011 will be a quilty one for me!

First up will be finishing up my sister-in-law's grandmother's quilt. Did you follow that? I should get that done this month and that's my Number One Priority. That comes before anything else. Well, except for work and Penny and eating and sleeping and going to the dentist on Monday. But it's Number One!

Next up is Judy's Patchwork Times UFO Challenge! If you go to the UFO Challenge button in the sidebar, you'll see the projects we all have lined up for 2011. The first number drawn is #6. For me, that's finishing up A New Day by Brenda Riddle at Acorn Quilt & Gift Company. Brenda designs the most luscious fabrics for Lecien. I can't wait to get back to working on it.

Then there's the Monochromatic Challenge that Judy cooked up. I haven't committed to this one, but thought I'd just play along when the mood strikes. January's color is yellow. After viewing my yellow stash yesterday, I found out it will truly be a challenge for me. But I haven't given up on it yet!

That Judy! She always keeps challenging us! I usually give everything a try, but if she comes up with some kind of cooking challenge ... well, let's just say that I won't be participating in that one! :)

I do want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! But beyond "happy" and "quilty," my fervent wish for everyone is a healthy 2011!

Oh, don't forget to take a few stitches today! Remember, what you do on New Year's Day, you do for the rest of the year!!!!!